European Researcher. Series A

1301-1309

Authors: Solomon Kebebew, Ketema Belete, Tamado Tana

The study was carried out to evaluate the productivity of maize - soybean intercropping system and to identify the best combination that maximize productivity of the system. Maize hybrid (BH540) at 44,444 plants ha-1 and three soybean varieties (AFGAT, Awassa-95 and Crawford) in a factorial combination of three planting densities (25%, 50% and 75%) of the recommended population density of soybean with the respective sole of each variety of component crops were arranged in a randomized complete block design with three replications. Sole cropped maize grain yield (3189.80 kg ha-1) was non-significantly greater than intercropped (2753.70 kg ha-1) by means of 13.67%. Soybean seed yield of 1993.61 and 747.48 kg ha-1 was obtained from sole and intercropped soybean, respectively. In all combinations, LER was greater than one justified that a yield advantage of (14-32%) and (6-28%) as depicted by LER 1.14-1.32 and 1.06 -1.28 due to varieties and planting densities, respectively. Generally, as LER was superior in all intercrops evaluating that the productivity of maize-soybean intercropping showed a higher relative yield advantage of 32% over sole cropping. The GMV of the intercrops was increased with an increase in planting density of soybean. Furthermore, the GMV of intercrops (ETB 12176.00 per ha) was greater by means of 41.05% over sole cropped maize whilst lower than that of soybean sole cropped GMV by ETB 3772.90 per ha or 23.66%. However, MA had not significantly varied due to varieties and planting densities and cropping system. In additive intercropping system, maize intercropped with Awassa-95 at 50% planting density showed a yield advantage of 23.71% over sole cropped maize.

1323-1332

Authors: Sidra Ghazanfar, Zhang Qi Wen, Muhammad Abdullah, Majid Latif

The purpose of this study was to assess the awareness and perception of farmers of Pakistan about the crop insurance. This study was conducted in two tehsils of RajanPur district of Punjab province of Pakistan. Using various statistical tools like arithmetic mean, standard deviation, counting, percentage and analysis of variance, the collected data was analyzed using SPSS. A five-point Likert scale was also used to measure different variables. The findings revealed that majority of the respondents i.e. 64.17% respondents were aware with the term “crop insurance” while the understanding level with crop insurance varied among those who had general awareness about crop insurance i.e. only 29.87 % respondents among those who were aware claimed that they understand well about crop insurance. The major sources of awareness about crop insurance were found to be friends/coworkers and financial institutes. Climatic risk and crop diseases were declared as the most important risks faced by respondents in the study area. There were found considerable misperceptions about crop insurance among farmers i.e. majority of the farmers declared the crop insurance as a scheme which does not compensate their losses as it should be and as well as a kind of a tax which can reduce their income as well as they believed that it is only designed for a specific group of farmers i.e. large scale farmers. Farmers believed that a crop insurance plan with low premium and offering maximum compensation against losses can be acceptable to them. Using ANOVA and CHI SQUARE test, it was found that education and landholdings were significant with the level of awareness while age was not found to be significant with awareness. Before launching crop insurance plans in Pakistan and to make such scheme more successful, government institutes related to agriculture can create awareness among farmers about crop insurance and take steps to reduce the misunderstandings and misperception which exist among the farming community. Offering of maximum subsidy from Government of Pakistan can attract the farmers towards crop insurance.

1351-1356

Authors: Dina Orazymbetova

At the current stage of development, Kazakhstan’s regional policy is called on to ensure the formation of favorable conditions and factors for building up the internal and external competitiveness of regions, ensuring the territorial concentration of labor and capital resources in centers of economic growth, and boosting the regional employment rate and the quality of life of the republic’s citizens. This has been reflected in numerous state programs, which this article is going to examine. The author concludes that reducing the differentiation between regions is possible only through the formation of centers of economic growth.

1367-1375

Authors: Muhammed Kürşad Özlen

Continuous changes in technology, economic, social and psychological understandings and structures have influence on both Human Resources and their management. Organizations approach their human capital in a more sensitive way in order to win the loyalty and commitment of them, while increasing profit and maximizing the efficiency/effectiveness of its work power. Human Resources Management helps achieving these goals by recruiting, training, developing, motivating and rewarding employees. Therefore, the identification of current research interests is essential to lead them in defining organizational human resources strategies. The main purpose of this research is to identify top rated factors related to Human Resource Management by analyzing all the abstracts of the published papers in a Human Resource Management journal from the beginning of 2005 till the end of 2012. As a result of analyzing the keywords of all abstracts, the frequencies of the keyword categories are identified. Except the keywords related to Human Resources (17.6%), it is observed that the studies for the period consider the following: Employee rights and their career (18.3%), management (14.6%), contextual issues (10%), organizational strategies (9.5%), performance measurement and training (9.5%), behavioral issues and employee motivation (5.7), organizational culture (5.4%), technical issues (4.1%), etc. It should be noted that the researchers (a) mainly stress on practice more than theory and (b) consider the organization less than the individual. Interestingly, employee motivation is found to be less considered by the researchers. This study is believed to be useful for future studies and the industry by identifying the hot and top rated factors related to Human Resource Management.

1387-1400

Authors: Dalila Salkanović, Mersid Poturak

Consumer ethnocentrism comes up as tendency to purchase domestic products instead of foreign once. This kind of behavior can be directly linked to every country’s prosperity. Ethnocentric consumers, purchasing domestic products, see as their own contribution to economic, social and political development. Purpose of this study is to analyze consumer perceptions about local products consumption and its effects on community-building in BiH. It also explored the potential to expand local markets for local food and products. Sources of local food products include (but may not be limited to) farmers markets, and grocers who carry local foods. A descriptive research methodology was used for this study. As the survey instrument questionnaire is used to collect data from local community. 320 responses were further analyzed with SPSS program, using descriptive statistics. Final outcome give detailed picture of local products consumption by learning about the expectations of consumers and understanding the kinds of contributions that local products make to the community. Results showed that consumers in BiH are showing ethnocentric behavior while purchasing products, respondents generally perceive domestic products to be of good quality but while purchasing they are putting quality in front of domestically produced products.